|
|
Aquamarine
|
| |
Aquamarine derives it's name from the Latin word seawater, as you may
understand by the bluish green color it has. Aquamarine is the birthstone
for March, registers at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale for hardness and is part of
the Beryl family of stones. Aquamarine is mined in many exotic parts of the
world, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.It is recommended gift for
couples that are celebrating their 19th anniversary.
The largest single stone Aquamarine was found in Brazil at a whopping 243 Lbs
in 1920. Since then it has been cut into smaller pieces, but a 13 Lb uncut
portion can be found in the American Museum of Natural History.
The largest cut Aquamarine gem is 879.5 Carat found in the British Museum.
|
|
Amethyst
|
| |
Amethyst is February's birthstone, and is the recommended gift for the 6th wedding
anniversary.
Amethyst colors range is from a pale lilac to the most popular and well known rich
deep purple. It is mined in Argentina, Africa, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil.
The deeper colored Amethyst is considered more desirable and valuable.
Amethyst is derived from the Greek word "amethystos" which means not drunken.
The mystical powers amethyst is said to have includes spiritual wisdom, bring peace
of mind, humility, It protects the person wearing the gem from deceit and treason.
Amethyst ranks 7 on the Mohs hardness scales.
|
|
Diamond
|
| |
A diamond is a mineral composed of pure carbon. It is the hardest of all
known substances. Diamonds rate 10 on the Mohs scale.
Diamond is the birth stone for April. They were mined in India way back
in 400 B.C.
The major players in the diamond industry are Australia, Botswana, Canada,
Namibia, South Africa and the former Soviet Union mine 80% of the world's
Diamonds. The United States is the #1 consumer for diamonds second in line
is Japan.
The name diamond comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means unconquerable
and indestructible. Ancient Kings and nobles wore diamonds to protect them in battle.
Now it has been said that the ancient men would say to their lovers...
" my love for you is ADAMAS", and then the diamond eventually grew to represent
eternal love and romance.
back in 1477 Maximillian, the Arch-duke of Austria, gave the woman he loved,
Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring to seal their vows of marriage that started a
500 year tradition of the engagement ring.
Western cultures place the engagement ring on the bride to be on her third
finger of the left hand. Theory has it that there is a vein that starts in that
finger and goes directly to the heart. Also known as the "vein of love"
|
|
Emerald
|
| |
The world renowned Emerald is May's birthstone, and is also part of the beryl family.
Emerald rates 7.5 on the Mohs scale.The ancients believed the emerald brought eternal
hope, spiritual rebirth, love and intelligence.
Emerald is recommended for 20th and 35th wedding anniversary gifts.
Derived from the Latin word "smaragdus", emeralds are mined in Colombia, Russia,
Australia and the U. S.. Most of the Emeralds on the market today are treated with
oil to fill in the surface cracks. That's why you should not clean emerald jewelry
with harsh cleaners or place in an ultra sonic cleaner.
|
|
Garnet
|
| |
Garnet is traditionally the birthstone of January. Garnets have a wide range of
colors, but the most common is the rich dark red.
The word garnet derives its name from the Latin word "granatus" which means grain.
The garnet grains are compared to the seeds of the popular pomegranate.
garnets are found literally all over the globe.
This includes Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North and South America.
The ancients believed the Garnet gave its wearer guidance through rough and difficult
times. As well as protection from a range of sicknesses, poisons and ward of evil spirits.
The Garnet is 7.5 on the Mohs scale and is traditionally given as the second anniversary gift.
|
|
Gold
|
| |
It has been said gold has been used as currency for more than 5,500 years.
Gold is also perceived as permanent wealth compared to our current paper currency. They say all the gold in the world eve mined would fit under the structure of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.Gold comes out of the ground as yellow. When mixed with alloys the color of gold can be altered. Such as when mixed with copper you now made "rose gold". When mixed with silver you get green gold. White gold is
created when a gold item is dipped in Rhodium.Gold content is measured in Karats; 24 karat gold is pure gold, meaning 24 parts gold 0 parts alloy. Where as 18 karat gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts alloys. 14 karat gold is 14 parts gold 10 parts alloys and 10 karat gold is 10 parts gold and 14 parts alloys.
Alloys are other metals mixed in with the gold such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc to make the gold harder to create a better product for the use in jewelry.Caring for your jewelry is also important.You want to keep your jewelry looking beautiful for generations to come. Always remove your gold jewelry before any type of physical activity. When the handle of the tool being used is gripped tightly, pressure is placed on the gold ring and may cause it to flatten or deform.Personal Story: I picked up my toolbox and the weight
of the toolbox molded my gold ring to my finger. I even bent my gold ring when
using a simple thing like the broom.
Harsh chemicals can damage your gold jewelry as well.
Chemicals like chlorine, bleach, ammonia etc. Personal story: I had a guy
come into my jewelry store one time with his wedding ring all corroded, and
"eaten up". I showed the gold ring to my jeweler, come to find out the customer
was a pool man. The chemicals that he used for his profession was eating up his
gold ring. Actually it wasn't the gold being eaten by the chemicals it was the
alloys mixed with the gold. At any rate his gold ring was literally coming to pieces.
So gals don't be upset if your guy takes off his ring due to his profession.
|
|
Moissanite
|
| |
Natural Moissanite is composed of silicon carbide, a very hard substance rated 9.25 on the Mohs scale, second only to the Diamond which rates 10.
Moissanite was discovered in meteorites By a Dr. Henri Moissan back in 1893.
The name moissanite was derived from the last name of the DR. ( Moissan ) and the
last part of meteorite ( ite ) hence the word Moissanite was created.
But the moissanite used for jewelry is lab grown which is a very extensive and expensive process.
|
|
Platinum
|
| |
Platinum was discovered by the Ancient Egyptians. They decorated the royal caskets
and sacred items with Platinum.
Because Platinum has a natural dull gray finish, Platinum jewelry is also lightly
coated with rhodium to give it a beautiful shine like silver and white gold.
Platinum is a pure metal, Most of the platinum jewelry in the United States
is 09-95% pure. Platinum is non allergenic.
When Platinum is mined it takes about 10 tons of ore to make one ounce of Platinum.
All the Platinum ever mined would fit into an average size American living room.
Platinum is so dense and heavy a 6 inch cube would weigh around 165 Lbs.
Not like Gold, Platinum is measured parts per thousand. So if a piece of jewelry
is stamped PT99 that means it is 99% Platinum 1% alloy.
U. S. Platinum jewelry comes in one of three ways and is stamped like this 99% =
Plat999 or PT999. 95% = Plat950 or Pt950. 90% = Plat900 or 900Pt.
|
|
Silver
|
| |
Silver has been used for jewelry for thousands of years, way back to the ancient
Egyptians. The ancients believed that silver promoted healing, gave good luck,
and kept away evil spirits.
Like it's sister metal gold, Silver is alloyed with other metals to make it
stronger and more durable for the use of making jewelry. Most silver is designed
from sterling silver, which is a blend of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
The jewelry that is marked 99.9% silver is called FINE SILVER, the jewelry made
from sterling silver is marked with an SS or 925 indicating 92.55 fineness.
Silver is mined in Mexico, Peru, Canada, the U.S. and Australia.
Almost 300 million ounces of silver is used in the production of silverware and
jewelry each year.It is the choice for 25 th Anniversary gift.
silver has more electrical conductivity than copper.
The ancients associated silver with the moon, especially the full moon, and
gave it lunar goddess status.
|
|
|
|
